Isle Royale National Park
Isle Royale National Park is in the state of Michigan. Isle
Royale, the largest island in Lake Superior, is over 45 miles in
length and 9 miles wide at its widest point. The park is made of
Isle Royale itself and approximately 400 smaller islands, along
with any submerged lands within 4.5 miles of the surrounding
islands. Isle Royale National Park was established on April 3,
1940, was designated as a Wilderness Area in 1976, and was made
an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980. It is a relatively
small national park at about 900 square miles, with only about
200 square miles above water. At the U.S.-Canada border, it will
meet the borders of the future Canadian Lake Superior National
Marine Conservation Area.
Isle Royale National Park Hiking Trails
The Greenstone Ridge is a high ridge in the center of the island
and carries the longest trail in the park, the Greenstone Ridge
Trail, which runs 40 miles from one end of the island to the
other. This is generally done as a 4 or 5 day hike. A boat
shuttle can carry hikers back to their starting port. In total
there are 165 miles of hiking trails. There are also canoe/kayak
routes, many involving portages, along coastal bays and inland
lakes.
